"Sport in Japan Sports in Japan are a significant part of Japanese culture. Both traditional sports such as sumo and martial arts, and Western imports like baseball and association football, are popular with both participants and spectators. Sumo wrestling is considered Japan's national sport. Baseball was introduced to the country by visiting Americans in the 19th century. The Nippon Professional Baseball league is Japan's largest professional sports competition in terms of television ratings and spectators. Martial arts such as judo, karate and modern kendō are also widely practiced and enjoyed by spectators in the country. Association football has gained wide"
"popular with tournament crowds. At the peak of his career he wore an outlandish bright yellow ""mawashi"" and would enliven the preliminaries by throwing the purifying salt in a manner that resembled an American football player scoring a touchdown. He would also crouch extremely low to the ground when doing the warm up or ""shikiri"". Eventually he was instructed by the Japan Sumo Association to tone these antics down and in his later years on the ""dohyō"" wore a black ""mawashi"" and was much more subdued. By 2004 Asanowaka was no longer able to hold his own in the top"
"had been staged) with a perfect 15–0 score. During that tournament he wore a gold-coloured ""mawashi,"" the first wrestler to flout the Japan Sumo Association's rule that only dark colours should be worn. It had been given to him by the chairman of his supporter's club, who was also the head of the shipping company for whom he had worked in his years out of sumo. Because other wrestlers regarded it as a symbol of good luck, and also because NHK began colour broadcasts of sumo matches in 1960, many others have followed Tamanoumi's lead and worn brightly coloured ""mawashi""."
"to the list of official techniques in 2001. However, his two most common winning techniques are the straightforward ""yori-kiri"" or force out, and ""oshi-dashi"", or push out. His favoured grip on the ""mawashi"" at the beginning of his career was the unusual ""mae-mawashi"", a double-handed grip on the front of the mawashi at the opponent's stomach area. However, he has more recently favoured a ""migi-yotsu"" grip, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent's arms. Aminishiki is also known for employing ""henka,"" or sidestepping, to wrongfoot his opponents at the ""tachi-ai"" or initial charge. His victory over"
"Mawashi geri Mawashi geri may be executed from a variety of stances, and there are several methods of proper execution. Technique is mainly used in Karate, Jujutsu, Kenpo etc. The portion of its execution that is always consistent is that the kick is executed inward and at an angle that is anywhere from parallel to the floor to 45 degrees upward. In general, it is a lateral kick that strikes with the foot. Ideally, the foot that is on the ground during the kick points directly away from the opponent, but 90 to 45 degrees away from the opponent may"
"Pen spinning Pen spinning is a form of object manipulation that involves the deft manipulation of a writing instrument with one's hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school or office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held. It is sometimes classified as a form of contact juggling; however, some tricks do leave contact with the body. Pen spinning is called pen mawashi or, more rarely and disparagingly, ""rōnin mawashi"" (""rejected student spinning"") in Japan, where the pastime has been popular since at least the 1970s and where the Pen Spinning Association Japan"
"head guards are required only for sparring. Sparring (""loba"") takes place in a 5-6.5 metres square. Matches are divided primarily by age but also by weight. A ""dre"" (equal to 3 points) is awarded for well performed mavashi kick (on either side of the headguard). If a maygiri kick is executed effectively on the stomach area, a ""dha"" (2 points) is awarded. A ""yaw"" (1 point) is awarded if the competitor performs a well timed stick (tora or tura) attack. Using excessive force, even to legal scoring areas, results in a penalty or disqualification. The arms, legs, head and upper"
"the ""mawashi"" to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip was ""migi-yotsu"", with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent's arms. He won over 40 per cent of his matches by ""yori-kiri"", or force out. He was also fond of ""shitatenage"", or underarm throw. On October 9, 2007, he suddenly retired from being an active sumo wrestler and became head coach of Tokitsukaze stable, after the previous head coach (former ""komusubi"" Futatsuryū) was dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association for his involvement in a hazing scandal. He was initially reluctant to do so, having not yet reached ""san'yaku"","
"village, from where people have been accessing Swabi central since long. Swabi central is around 9 km from Kaddi village. To the south, the Indus river is at 10 km drive. The young generation has interest in cricket while the traditional sports of the village include Kabaddi and Makha. Latter is an archery sport in which a long arrow (""Pashto: Ghashay"") is used along with a long bow (""Pashto:Leenda""). The arrow has a saucer shaped metallic plate (""Pashto:tubray"") at its distal end. The archers play in teams and attempt to hit a small white wooden target called ""takai"" surrounded by"
"belts of today. During the Edo period, wrestlers would wear a fringed decorative apron called a ""keshō-mawashi"" during the match, whereas today these are worn only during pretournament rituals. Most of the rest of the current forms within the sport developed in the early Edo period. The winner of a sumo bout is generally either the first wrestler to force his opponent to step out of the ring, or the first wrestler to force his opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet. Also, a number of other less common"
"event. In it, a team of four competitors work together, with three carrying the fourth, who wears a bandana (hachimaki) or hat. The team is defeated if they are knocked over or, more commonly, if their bandana/hat is removed by an opponent. Competitors are often divided into opposing red and white factions. In recent years some schools have removed physically demanding events such as the ""kibasen"" from sports day programs due to the risk of serious injury; in a 2003 incident a high school student in Fukuoka Prefecture was left quadriplegic after falling from his teammates' shoulders. In Brazil this"
"using an illegal move (or ""hansoku""). ""Ginboshi"" (銀星 or silver star) is also used informally to denote a ""maegashira"" victory over an ""ōzeki."" However, there is no monetary bonus for such a win, nor are official ""ginboshi"" records kept. The unofficial record holder is Aminishiki, with 45 as of November 2014. The term ""kinboshi"" is used outside sumo in informal language. It can mean a major victory, or (in slang) a beautiful woman. Tables for both ""kinboshi"" earned (by ""maegashira"") and those conceded (by ""yokozuna"") are given below.<br> ""Kinboshi appearing in individual wrestlers' records before they began to be awarded"
"was leading on the score board(6-2) against Russia. We heartly congratulate the work done by the trio. It is also called kushti in Punjab and Haryana. The wrestling in Punjab and Haryana will take place in a circular court with soft ground which in Punjabi is called an ""akharha"". Two wrestlers will continue to wrestle until the back of one touches the ground. The winner will parade the court with the loser following him.[10] The wrestlers are called Pehlwans who train with modern weights and traditional weights such as a Gada (mace). The aim of kushti is to wrestle the"
"Washi ""Washi"" is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts. Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e were all produced using ""washi"". ""Washi"" was also used to make various everyday goods like clothes, household goods, and toys as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests and statues of Buddha. It was even used to make wreaths that were given to winners in the 1998 Winter Paralympics. Several kinds of ""washi"", referred to collectively as Japanese tissue, are used in the conservation and mending of books. ""Washi"" is produced in a way similar"
"they were before the break occurred, and will put them back in exactly the same position once the break has concluded. Additionally, the ""gyōji"" may call for a small break if he needs to fix a wrestler's ""mawashi"". Mid-match breaks are rare, but do happen. When a wrestler has apparently fallen to the clay, ""the gyōji"" is expected to determine the winner of the bout. His most obvious accessory is a solid wooden war-fan, called a ""gunbai"" which he uses in the prebout ritual and in pointing to the winner's side at the end of each bout, and will often"
"any wrestlers in the top two divisions. He was mainly a ""oshi-sumo"" wrestler, preferring pushing and thrusting techniques. His most common winning ""kimarite"" was ""oshi-dashi"", a simple push out. However, he was also capable of fighting on the ""mawashi"", his favoured grip being ""hidari-yotsu"" (right hand outside, left hand inside). Musōyama Masashi Musōyama Masashi (born February 14, 1972 as Takehito Oso) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in January 1993, and he won promotion to the top ""makuuchi"" division in just four tournaments. He won thirteen special prizes and spent"
"of a single post driven into the ground, so that it is approximately shoulder height. The post is tapered from the bottom to a thickness of 1 cm at the top. Traditionally, a pad of rice straw (巻 maki ""roll"" + 藁 wara ""straw"") was bound to the top with rope to form a striking surface. However, duct tape and foam rubber padding will work just fine, and last longer outdoors. Soft makiwaras are the type of makiwara that beginners use, but they are still essential for daily speed training for both beginners and experts alike. Soft makiwaras are often"
"performed anywhere. Sometimes classified as a form of contact juggling, pen spinning may also include tossing and catching of the pen. Called """"rōnin mawashi"""" in Japan, where it is popular among the per-collegiate community, pen twirling has its stars, as does any other performance or skill. Accomplished masters of the art form that are well known — at least among those who follow the sport — have developed a reputation for creation of certain signature 'moves'. David Weis is credited with creating numerous 'back' style moves, such as the """"BackAround"""". Hideaki Kondoh is generally credited with giving the pen trick"
"players with a circular pitch of 15–20 feet. There is no outer limit. The players can run as far they can. There is no referee. The raider will say ""kauddi, kauddi"" throughout the attack. Saunchi kauddi () (also called Saunchi pakki/) can best be described as being similar to boxing. It is popular in the Malwa area of Punjab. It is unlimited players with a circular playing pitch. A bamboo with a red cloth is dug into the ground which is paraded by the winner. In sauchi kabaddi, the raider will hit the defender but only on the chest. The"
"techniques to fighting on the ""mawashi"". Nearly half of all his career victories to date have been by ""oshi dashi"", or push out. Kotoyūki Kazuyoshi Born in Marugame in Kagawa prefecture, Enomoto was interested in sumo from a very young age and joined a sumo club in his area. None of the junior high schools in his area had a sumo club, so he asked an acquaintance who was a sumo coach to help him to transfer to a school in Shōzu that did have a sumo club. In high school as a first year he participated in a Shikoku-wide"
"Kinboshi It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms ""shiroboshi"" (lit: white star) to designate a bout victory, and ""kuroboshi"" (black star) to designate a bout defeat. Thus, a ""gold star"" designates it as a special victory. The word ""kinboshi"" first came into popular use in the Taishō period (1912-1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a ""maegashira"" who defeated a ""yokozuna"" in an official tournament began in January, 1930. A ""kinboshi"" victory increases the balance in the ""maegashira""'s ""mochikyūkin"" account by 10 yen. This balance is converted using a multiplier, presently 4,000, and added"
"used in techniques normally used in kata or against opponents. This weighted training helps strengthens mostly the upper body part such as: fingers, hands, arms, shoulder, and chest. ""Ishi sashi"" are hand-held weights in the shape of padlocks, traditionally made of stone. ""Tetsu geta"" (iron clogs) are worn like sandals, but requires gripping the clogs with one's toes. The practitioner then moves around and kicks while wearing these. The extra weight required to move the foot strengthens the leg for kicks. ""Nigiri game"" (gripping jars) are ceramic jars filled with sand to different weights. The jars are gripped around a"
"while holding a man under each arm. Mughal-era wrestlers sometimes even wore bagh naka on one hand, in a variation called ""naki ka kushti"" or ""claw wrestling"". This form of wrestling mimics the Persian Pahlavani style of wrestling, but differs slightly in training methods and techniques. Official titles awarded to koshti champions are Rustam, a hero's name of the Persian ""Shahnameh"" epic. Wrestlers who compete in Pehlwani are referred to as ""pehlwan"" (). Malakhra () or Malakhro () is the Sindhi form of sport wrestling, as opposed to malla-yuddha or combat-wrestling. It is mostly played in Pakistan. The match begins"
"is then sewn together using the skin of a horse. The one who kicks the ball is called a ""mariashi."" A good mariashi makes it easy for the receiver to control the mari, and serves it with a soft touch to make it easy to keep the mari in the air. Kemari is played on a flat ground, about 6–7 meters squared. The uniforms that the players wear are reminiscent of the clothes of the Asuka age and include a crow hat. This type of clothing was called ""kariginu"" and it was fashionable at that time. Kemari Kemari () is"
"games, with scattered speaking parts. Mark Musashi Masaru Edward Fulenwider-Musashi (born April 26, 1977 in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan), better known by the stage name , is a Wushu martial artist and a stuntman/actor or Gaijin tarento. Raised in Buckfield, Maine, he attended Dartmouth College (Class of 1999), majoring in East Asian Languages and Literatures and minoring in Drama. He took the fall term of his senior year there to go to China to study Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. After college, he moved to Japan, where, after getting his start doing a women's underwear commercial, he was soon recruited by AAC"
"outer limit. The players can run as far they can. There is no referee. The raider will say ""kauddi, kauddi"" throughout the attack. Saunchi Kauddi () (also called Saunchi pakki/) can best be described as being similar to boxing. It is popular in the Malwa area of Punjab. It is unlimited players with a cicular playing pitch. A bamboo with a red cloth is dug into the ground which is paraded by the winner. In sauchi kabaddi, the raider will hit the defender but only on the chest. The defender will then hold the raiders wrist. A foul is declared"
"Nawashi ' (noun; lit. ""rope master"", ""rope teacher"" or ""maker of string""), is a word which in SM circles it means ""rope artist"". Nawashi are those who have some recognized proficiency in the historic erotic art of ' (lit. tight binding) or kinbaku-bi (lit. beautiful bondage). Other terms used in Japan for rope artists within SM culture are ""kinbakushi"" and ""bakushi"", with ""bakushi"" being more typical. In early 2007 a documentary movie entitled ""Bakushi"" produced by Naoya Narita and directed by Ryūichi Hiroki was released. In it, Hiroki interviews three Japanese ropemasters (bakushi), Chimuo Nureki, Haruki Yukimura, and Go Arisue,"
"He uses a ""migi-yotsu"" (right hand inside, left hand outside) grip on his opponent's ""mawashi"". He is fond of throws, both overarm (""uwatenage"") and underarm (""shitatenage""). However, his most common winning ""kimarite"" is ""yori-kiri"" (force out). Sōkokurai Eikichi Sōkokurai Eikichi (born 9 January 1984 as Enhetubuxin) is a professional sumo wrestler from Inner Mongolia, China. He is the only Chinese national to reach the top ""makuuchi"" division. Sōkokurai is of Mongolian descent. He made his professional debut in 2003 and was promoted to the top division in September, 2010. In April 2011 he was ordered to retire by the Japan"
"Maasais usually play as fast as possible, illegal moves may occur either as a result of a player's mistake or his actual intent to cheat; in either case, it is the opponents' responsibility to detect the illegal move and withdraw it. Non-playing people may also intervene, and often bet on the winner. The system of social rules defining ""good manners"" in relation to Enkeshui (both for players and observers) is quite complex and difficult to grasp for young people as well as strangers. Enkeshui Enkeshui (or Engesho) is a traditional mancala game played by the Maasai of both Kenya and"
"Mallakhamba Mallakhamba/Mallakhamb (Kannada: ಮಲ್ಲ ಕಂಬ"" malla-kamb"", Marathi: मल्लखांब ""malla-khamb"", Tamil: மல்லர் கம்பம் ""mallar-kambam"") is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or hanging rope. The word Mallakhamb also refers to the pole used in the sport. The pole is usually made from Seesham (Indian Rosewood) polished with castor oil. Three popular versions of Mallakhamba are practiced using a sheesham pole, cane, or rope. The name Mallakhamba derives from the terms ""malla"" meaning wrestler, and ""khamb"" which means"
"tool in periods of civil strife. The form of wrestling combat changed gradually into one where the main aim in victory was to throw one's opponent. The concept of pushing one's opponent out of a defined area came some time later. A ring, defined as something other than simply the area given to the wrestlers by spectators, is also believed to have come into being in the 16th century as a result of a tournament organized by the then principal warlord in Japan, Oda Nobunaga. At this point, wrestlers would wear loose loincloths rather than the much stiffer ""mawashi"" wrestling"
"with both wrestlers tying a twisted cloth around the opponent's waist. Each one then holds onto the opponent's waistcloth and tries to throw him to the ground. Malakhra is one of the favorite sports among males in Sindh, Pakistan. Malakhro matches are generally held on holidays and Fridays and are a feature of all fairs and festivals. Rich feudal lords and influential persons maintain famous ""Malhoo"" (wrestlers) and organize matches for them. Wrestlers who compete in Malakhra are referred to as ""malho"" () or ""mulh"" (). Baluchistan Province Wrestlers usually begin formal training in their teens. A typical training day"
"Kachāshī , sometimes romanized as katcharsee, is a form of festive Okinawan folk dance. In Okinawa, it is often a feature of celebrations such as weddings and victory festivities after Okinawan wrestling matches and public elections. Traditionally, the dance is accompanied by the sanshin and drum, and often punctuated with finger whistling called . The dance is executed with the hands in the air, palm flat for women and curled (or in fists) for men. The hands alternate in a pulling and pushing, up and down elliptical motion, one hand facing outward and up while the other is facing inward"